The crisis rocking the Association of Cattle Dealers in Oyo State has taken a new dimension following the purported removal of its chairman, Moruf Salau, and the subsequent declaration of his vacant position.

This is contained in a petition jointly signed by five zonal leaders of the association through their lawyer, J.A. Abubakar of Chambers of Titilola A. Dauda and Co., Ibadan and delivered to the Commissioner for Agriculture in Oyo State on Friday in Ibadan.

The petition dated January 5 was signed by Mohammed Ismail, Oke-Ogun chairman; Dauda Adewole, Akinyele Owolowo chairman; Raheem Moruf, the Igbo-Ora/Ibarapa chairman; Adelakun Mufutau, Fasola Settlement chairman, and Garuba Mohammed-Awal, Saki West chairman.

It was entitled: “Letter of Notification and Disclaimer”, stating that Mr Salau had completed his four-year tenure as chairman of the association since 2010, following the provision of its constitution.

Mr Salau, since 2010, after the expiration of his term as the state chairman, had since been parading himself in contravention of the provisions of Article 7(I) of the association’s constitution.

“The article provides that ‘the tenure of office of each officer is four years. Any officer could be re-elected for another term,’’ the petitioners said.

However, in a swift reaction, Mr Salau alleged that the group had embarked on a campaign of calumny against him, having heard that the union was progressing to hold a laudable programme on January 8.

He said the allegations against him were untrue, adding, “Busari Mojeed and Alhaji Dauda Adewole are not members of the association”.

“The Association of Cattle Breeders and Dealers is a national association. I was duly elected as the chairman in an election held at Iseyin.

“Wasiu Busari from Oyo and Mohammed Umar from Igbeti emerged as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively, at the election.”

The petitioners had also claimed that Mr Salau had been parading himself as the chairman without being re-elected or re-nominated for a second term to continue

holding the position.

They informed the commissioner and the general public that all actions taken by Mr Salau from 2010 till date were illegal, null and void, saying that they also contravened the provisions of the association’s constitution.

They declared the entire executive positions of the association vacant until another credible election was

conducted to fill the positions by its members.

The petitioners also accused Mr Salau of planning to inaugurate an association called the National Association of Cattle Breeders and Dealers Association of Nigeria (NACBDAN) in Ibadan, Oyo State, on January 8.

Countering the allegations, Mr Salau said that he and others formed the union and agreed to do all within their capabilities in building a formidable union.

“In 2010, some people came, saying they wanted to form the Oke-Ogun Group. I did not discourage them but only urged them to carry the state along in their activities.

“It was later I realised the mission of the group. In the union, we had 12 local governments, with 10 for Oke-Ogun, one for Ibadan and the other for Oyo.

“On seeing this, I decided not to summon any meeting to avoid crisis, and they did not submit any report for five years,” he said.

Mr Salau said that the group later registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and brought it to the commissioner, who did not recognise them.

(NAN)